Pope Léon XIV's Third Day in Lourdes Marks Significant Mass and Sensitive Meetings

On September 27, 2026, Pope Léon XIV continued his four-day visit to France with a full day in Lourdes, marked by important religious events and meetings. The day began at 9 AM with a gathering of the French bishops at the Hémicycle Sainte-Bernadette within the Notre-Dame de Lourdes sanctuary. At 11 AM, the Pope celebrated a mass at the sanctuary expected to attract around 200,000 attendees, including a 108-year-old pilgrim, Michelle Sabatté, who traveled by ambulance.

In a careful move to respect sensitivities related to past scandals, mosaic coverings were applied over images associated with a priest previously accused of sexual abuse to avoid controversy during the mass. The Pope’s engagement in Lourdes also included a private meeting with seven victims of sexual violence within the Church, a highly anticipated and delicate part of his schedule. These survivors sought a personal and candid dialogue with the Pope, reflecting ongoing Church efforts to address these abuses.

Aside from this, Pope Léon XIV held a session at the Accueil Notre-Dame focusing on end-of-life issues, coinciding with current French legislative debates on assisted dying. Additional private meetings featured encounters with staff, visitors at the Notre-Dame welcome center, and contemplative nuns at the Carmel monastery later in the afternoon.

The day concluded with a torch-lit procession and the recitation of the Rosary at the sanctuary in the evening before the Pope prepares for his next visit to Metz on Monday morning. This third day in France highlights both the spiritual and pastoral dimensions of the Pope’s mission amid ongoing social and institutional challenges within the Church.